pain management for osteoarthritis

Pain is the major symptom that leads patients to consult their physicians for the treatment of arthritis; therefore, effective pain control is an important goal in the management of this disorder. Pharmacologic therapy begins with simple analgesics and education.

In many patients, simple analgesics do not adequately control moderate arthritis pain, and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAID) are substituted for or added to the analgesic therapy. While NSAID are effective in controlling pain in mild to moderate osteoarthritis (OA), they are associated with significant toxicity (most frequently gastrointestinal) and may even cause complications that result in death. Patients who experience the pain associated with arthritis would therefore benefit from the antiinflammatory and analgesic actions of agents that are devoid of significant toxicities.

The main medications used are below:
1.Paracetamol. If you have pain caused by osteoarthritis, a GP may suggest taking paracetamol to begin with …
2.Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) …
3.Opioids …
4.Capsaicin cream …
5.Steroid injections.
Tramadol is as an alternative treatment option for osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee and hip for people who have failed treatment with acetaminophen and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or cannot take these medications. Tramadol can also be used in conjunction with acetaminophen or NSAIDs.
The newest drugs for arthritis pain include anakinra and canakinumab, which block IL-1, another immune system protein involved in inflammation. IL-17 inhibitors and IL-12/23 inhibitors. These drugs are useful in the treatment of psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. They include secukinumab, ixekizumab, and ustekinumab.